President Cyril Ramaphosa’s scathing remarks toward a group of 59 white South Africans—Afrikaners—who have been granted refugee status in the United States by President Donald Trump, have ignited a political and diplomatic firestorm, touching on race, land reform, national identity, and the volatile legacy of apartheid. Calling the group “cowards” for leaving South Africa, Ramaphosa claimed they were fleeing not from persecution but from the country’s efforts to address historic injustices. The comment has drawn both applause and outrage, and it further complicates already strained U.S.-South Africa relations.
The Afrikaners, welcomed with fanfare by U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Chris Landau at Dulles Airport, were described as having lived “under a shadow of violence and terror.” Holding small American flags and their children, they were the first to benefit from Trump’s controversial decision to grant refugee status to white South Africans on the grounds of racial discrimination and violence.
If South Africa wanted to prove that Trump did the right thing and these people really were in danger, what would they have done differently than this? https://t.co/XmgXCyoTEw
— Bonchie (@bonchieredstate) May 14, 2025
President Trump and his ally, Elon Musk, have amplified claims of a “white genocide” in South Africa—an assertion heavily disputed by mainstream human rights organizations and South African authorities. Nevertheless, the U.S. administration’s decision to resettle these families is not only a policy move but a deeply symbolic one, positioning Trump as a defender of what he sees as a persecuted minority.
Ramaphosa, for his part, fiercely rejected this narrative. “There is no genocide,” he declared at a public forum in Ivory Coast, adding that South Africa is unique in its peaceful post-colonial evolution: “We’re the only country on the continent where the colonisers came to stay, and we have never driven them out.”
At the heart of the tension is South Africa’s long-delayed land reform process. Over 30 years after apartheid ended, black South Africans still own only a small portion of the country’s productive farmland. In January, Ramaphosa signed a law permitting the government to seize land without compensation under limited conditions—though no land has yet been taken.
This part right here means “they got away before we had a chance to get our revenge and punish them” pic.twitter.com/i1XX0SBojk
— Muller (@mystisk_za) May 13, 2025
Critics argue this opens the door to economic instability and property rights erosion; supporters see it as an overdue correction to centuries of racial injustice. To some white South Africans—especially those in rural and farming communities—this move is perceived as a looming threat. For these 59 Afrikaners, it was enough to justify seeking refuge.
The president’s declaration that those who leave South Africa are “cowards” was widely interpreted as tone-deaf at best, offensive at worst. On social media, many accused him of dismissing legitimate fears and worsening racial division. Others saw it as a necessary assertion of national pride, affirming that South Africans—regardless of race—should unite to solve the country’s challenges.
His additional comment, “They’ll be back soon because there is no country like South Africa,” sought to end on a patriotic note, but it did little to soften the sting for those already feeling alienated.
Remember, folks. White South Africans don’t belong in South Africa even after 400 years. White Americans are invaders in America even after 500 years. But the third world illegal migrant who got here last Tuesday is just as American as anyone else and if you call him an invader…
— Matt Walsh (@MattWalshBlog) May 14, 2025
Ramaphosa said he plans to speak directly with Trump in the near future to address what he called the U.S. government’s “inaccurate assessment.” Trump, meanwhile, has reportedly threatened to boycott the upcoming G20 summit in South Africa unless the “situation is taken care of.”
The U.S. embassy outlined specific criteria for refugee eligibility: South African nationality, being from a racial minority (such as Afrikaners), and being able to prove past persecution or a credible fear of future persecution. While the South African government contests the legitimacy of these claims, the fact remains that the U.S. has acted decisively—and symbolically.
